Legacy ’99 girls just miss title in elite San Diego Surf Cup

SAN DIEGO — Going undefeated in the first five games, the Davis Legacy Soccer Club ’99 girls came up just short in a rematch with SD Surf Academy, losing 1-0 in the championship game at the Soccer Loco San Diego Surf Cup on Monday.

In that victory, it was a tally from Shingle Springs’ Mia Root off an all-business serve from Davis High’s Gaby Herrera that did the trick.

Along the way, the Legacy defense — paced by netminder Dani Lawson (Sacramento) and backline stalwarts Blue Devils Josie Baca, Alex Diaz and Camille Renaud — held all six opponents to a tournament-low three goals.

“It was a final-minute goal that beat us,” Legacy coach David Robertson told The Enterprise by telephone. “It was a nice run. Some great teams.”

Like the nation’s 25th-rated San Diego team, which was just coming off the Elite Club National League U.S. title.

In the 16-team Elite Division of the Surf Cup, Davis previously had stopped the Southern California Eagles, 2-1, and FC United (Illinois), 2-0, on Saturday before topping The Academy, 1-0, early Sunday to win its pool and advance to the first round of the eight-team one-and-done brackets.

Legacy ’99 routed Arsenal FC (Bowers), 4-1, later in the day on Sunday. The 1-0 victory over Real Soccer Club set up the championship rematch in the invitational-only shootout.

In the locals’ opening victory, Julia Curtis scored both goals versus the Eagles. (“She was a stud,” commented Robertson.)

Julia Cummings (Fairfield) and Theresa Borge (Vacaville) shook the net against FC United while Root (twice), Borge and Herrera scored in the Arsenal rout.

It was Herrera again, with less than 10 minutes remaining, who provided the margin of victory versus Real Soccer Club in Monday’s 1-0 nail-biter.

Fans need to go back only two weeks to remember Davis’ last tournament title — the Pleasanton Showcase. In May, Legacy ’99 took the Santa Clara Invitational. The City of Las Vegas Mayor’s Cup International was another championship earned by the local club in February.

Now Davis Soccer Club Legacy ’99 turns its attention to league play, which begins next month throughout the region.